Table-supporting mechanism



' e. A. BARBER.

TABLE SUPPORTING MECHANISM,

APPLICATION FILED SPT.28. 1917.

1,346,586. Patented July 13, 1920.

FZE- 2. Q I Q 19 '18 2 4 Fig.6

WITNESS: IN V EN TOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. BARBERFOF CHICAGO, I LINoIs, AssIs-Non 'I'O JOHN v. MoMANIS, or

KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

TABLE-SUPPORTIN Gr ME GHANISM.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed September 28,1917. Serial No. 193,754.

To all whom it may concern.-

Iie it known that I, G-nonon A. BARBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Supporting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in osteopathic tables, and it is adapted to be used 011 any table or chair that is mounted upon a telescopic supporting mechanism to be raised and lowered by hydraulic or other lifting means. One of its objects is to provide a reliable, safe, and inexpensive means to be used with the pedestal of such tables to releasably lock the telescoping member of the pedestal against rotary motion, while allowing free vertical motion to the same. Another object is to provide against lost motion between the telescoping and locking mem bers, and for taking up any lost motion which may develop. My invention also comprises certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of table embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line o 'u of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line a; 00 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4; is a perspective view of my 1111- proved locking means detached, and illustrating a modification.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the collar Fig. 4, and with the key mechanism also in section.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable key-member detached.

The accompanying drawings represent the preferred embodiments of my invention. In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a plain top section 1, comprising a single top section, but my invention is designed to be employed with tables having a plurality of adjustable and movable top sections, such for instance as heretofore disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted. to J. V. McManis and W. L. Sherwood for improvements in osteopathic table, May 20. 1913, No. 1062489.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2. and 3, the table top is mounted upon a plunger 3, which is movable vertically in a cylinder 4., formed in the lower section or base 2. The plunger is preferably raised and lowered by means of valve and pump mechanism housed within the plunger and actuated by a pump handle 10.

In the common use of an osteopathic table of the types mentioned the elevation of the top will be changed very many times without requiring any change whatever in the horizontal position; but at the same time it is is desirable to be able to change the horivertical movement of the plunger, while it.

is restrained from any rotary movement, I provide in said plunger one or more vertical slots, 5, extending from the top of the plunger to the point thereonwhich reaches the top of the cylinder when the plunger is eX- tended to the highest point attained in elevating the table. That portion of the lower end of the plunger remaining at all times in the cylinder is not slotted, as it is neces sary to maintain a close fitting joint between the lower end of the plunger and the cylinder in which it moves.

On the plunger I mount a close fitting collar, 6, provided with lugs or feathers, 7, adapted to engage and slide in the slots 5, and to travel snugly but freely therein. For strength and. durability I have shown three slots and corresponding lugs, equidistant on the circumference of the plunger, though the number thereof is not an essential part of my invention.

On the outer edge of the collar 6, I provide a flange 8, to fit over the outside of the cylinder 4, in which flange any suitable device for pressing against the cylinder and locking the collar upon the cylinder, to prevent rotary motion, is mounted. In the drawings I have shown a set screw 9, as a simple and elfective means of releasably locking the collar in place, but as it is obvious that other means may be used for the same purpose, such for instance as a camaction lever, mounted upon the collar and tion at the keyway, which even though slight at the keyway might be noticeable at the channel 17.

extremities of the table top and cause vibra tion of the table top objectionable to the patient and operator.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the collar 14 corresponding to the collar 6 ofrFig. 1 has rigidly secured thereto or formed integraltherewith a key member 15, which has one face 16 beveled 'or inclined and provided with a member 18 is provided with a beveled or inclined face 19;and a' projecting rib 120 to enterand slide along the channel 17. A

forked angular portion21of member 18 is engaged between collars 22 and 24Lby the shank ofan adjusting screw 25. Thethreaded portion of screw 25 engages a threaded recess in the key member 15, and said screw may be turned by means of a wrench seat 26 at its outer end to force the screw into or out of the recess into which it is threaded. The adjustment ,ofthe screw 25 endwise carries the key member 18 with it, and causes the inclined faces of the-key member 18v to slide upon the inclined faces of the key member 15 to cause the oppositebearing faces 27 and 28 of the key members to be adjusted to or from each other to accurately and closely engage the opposite faces ofthe keyway in the plunger-'3, and thereby to avoid any perceptible lost motion between the plunger 3 and base 1, whereby the table top and plunger could'move in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis of the plunger.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. A supporting pedestal comprising a cylinder, a'fluid actuated plunger movable A movable or adjustable key rigidly to said cylinder.

2. A table supportlng mechanism comprising a cylinder, a plunger movable endwise and rotatably relative .tosaid cylinder and adapted to be actuated by hydraulic means,said plunger having a key-way teX- tending through a portion of its lengtlu a collar resting upon the open .end of said cylinder and having a flange overhanging the outer wall of said cylinder, said collar being rotatably adjustable relative to said cylinder and provided with a key to engage the key-way of said plunger, and means to lock saidcollar against rotation.

. A supporting" pedestal comprising a cylinder, a plunger movable endwise and r0- tatably relative to said cylinder, said plunger being provided with a key-way extending through a portion, of its length, a

collar rotatably adjustable relative to said 7 7 cylinder and having a key to. engage :the key-way of said plunger, ad ustable means to secure a close fit between the engaging faces of said key and key-way, and means to lock said collar rigidly to said cylinder;

1., A table supporting mechanism comprising a cylinder a plunger movable endwise and rotatably relative to said cylinder, saidplunger being provided with akey-way extending through a portion of its length, a collar rotatably adjustable relative to said cylinder and having a rigidly mounted keymember and an adjustably mounted "keymember to adjust the engaging faces of said key into close relation with the engaging faces of said key-way, and means to lock said collar rigidly to said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. BARBER.

WVitnesses I HENRY H. BARBER, 'Mrs. B. LESLIE. 

